Photoshop or not?

Oh i only started the thread because Stephen commented on a photo of mine, refering to photoshop, which i have no problem with, but just wondered what people thought about its use, don't want to start a war!!

I too love this site because its not a site for critizising photos, just one to enjoy them.

Glad to see people on this site have a similar view about other peoples photos.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, that means if you like it say so, if not don't, don't look at it twice.

One of the main reasons I love this site is because I love taking pictures it is my hobby, my relaxation.

I don't always get it right but it I do my best. And I get a huge buzz when I get a really good one. And being the first to get shots of a town or village is the other buzz.Thats getting harder though.

I don't particularly like some photos that have been doctored but it is their choice. I can scroll pass them all if I want, because I also have the choice.

So let the power of the people continue

Photoshop is a must if you want you pics to stand out, not just for saturation of colours, it does a load more besides.

But then again i got to agree if its a hobby then not so important but if you want to get serious or even sell a few prints photoshop is a must.

Just my thoughts.

What would we do without you, Denzil?

I see your point John and for me it's just a hobby. Sometimes though you can get lucky and get a picture that doesn't need anything at all doing to it for it to stand out and still get lots of comments and interest in it. I haven't got Photoshop and the most I do to a photo is crop or use a filter and yet very kindly people said they really loved my pictures of Fremington Quay and the horse on the beach at St Michael's Mount and nothing was done to those at all, not even filters. Andy Edwards pictures are in my humble opinion some of the best on the site and he does nothing to his either.

Don't get me wrong I love your photos and some of the others who use Photoshop some of the time are brilliant photographers too such as Lyn and Jason but I do not think it is a must at all to use Photoshop to get a brilliant photo.

Thanks very much Stephanie, the £10.00 is on its' way. Seriously though, as I said earlier, photography is an art form and personally I think there's no better medium than nature herself......blue skies and green fields look pretty damned good as they are, but that's not to say they can't be enhanced/saturated/tinted etc, that's where the artistic license comes into play.

I have to say anyone using photoshop (especially when it's done well) has my whole-hearted congrats, I'm amazed at some of the beautiful results it creates. Jason makes a very good point though, this isn't a site for critique, thank goodness, just a wonderful place to showcase fabulous photography....long may it remain that way!

Finally, may I say thanks so much Stephanie for saying that, I love your pictures too!!

My comment the other day has certainly produced some interesting thoughts.  I received some nice comments about this photo of Audley End. All I did was  crop it and cloned some Canada Geese from the grass and got rid of a stick.